Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has announced that he will be departing the club in the summer.

The French forward revealed the news via the club’s official channels, releasing a video on the club’s Twitter account on Tuesday evening.

Announcing his exit, he said: “After speaking with Cholo (Diego Simeone), then with Miguel Angel and the people in the hierarchy of the club I wanted to speak with you, the fans, who have always given me a lot of love.

“To tell you I have taken the decision to leave. To see other things, to have other challenges.

“The truth is it has been difficult to take this route but it is what I feel I need and I would like to thank all of you for the love you have shown me during these five years.”

The news is the latest development in reports linking the 28-year-old with a move away from the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano. There were rumours that he was set to join Barcelona last summer but elected to stay and released a documentary revealing his decision.

Barca are once again one of the favourites to swoop for the World Cup winner this year too and can be backed at a price as low as 1/20 to sign Griezmann this summer.